Introduction

1. The task Titus faced in Crete was enormous - using the Scriptures he was to establish sound doctrine and an exemplary life that promoted change in believers who formerly lived in a culture of liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons. The truth and the power of the Gospel must be revealed in the Cretan believers as they put off sinful ways of living and put on righteous ways that please God. Such a great change demands a clear and evident change in mind, heart and will. Their lives are to be transformed from the inside out. This transformation is to come about by the Holy Spirit using the Scriptures to establish the truth of sound doctrine in believers. Titus' task is essentially the same task that is given everyone born again by God's grace, the task is to become more and more like Jesus. The task is to get believers to live according to the Word of God in the freedom of Christ, by the power of the Spirit.  The only authoritative source supplying knowledge concerning the person and work of Jesus is the Bible.
   
   
2. According to Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.' Last week we considered using the Scriptures to establish sound doctrine and for reproof (conviction) of sin. Sound doctrine is established when the fabric of the heart, mind and will is woven with the teachings of Christ Jesus. Conviction of sin comes about when the Scriptures prosecute you with the truth and the reality of your sinful ways and prove you guilty before God. This conviction is designed to bring about true repentance that causes a change in the mind's thinking, the heart's desire and the will's ruling. Until the mind thinks like the Word, and the heart desires righteousness and the will submits to the Word repentance is incomplete. Before we move on to look at using the Word to produce correction and righteous instruction we need to deal a bit more fully with one aspect of repentance. Repentance includes spiritual pain experienced by the soul. When I was sixteen years old my girlfriend dumped me, it hurt very deeply, it ploughed up my heart, turned my mind black, crushed my ego, battered my pride and made me feel like a complete idiot. It might have been puppy love, but it had a nasty bite, the pain was invisible but very real. When believers, who by the grace of God love and adore the Lord Jesus Christ are prosecuted by the Word and proven to be guilty the pain of godly sorrow ought to flood their hearts (2 Corinthians 7:10). Spiritual pain must not be confused with the remorse, regret or self-centred-sorrow, which is usually sorrow at being found out and not sorrow at offending Jesus. We do not like pain, but if you think about it pain is a wonderful thing. Not only does pain tell you very clearly that something is wrong but it teaches you to stop doing what hurts you. Both our boys when they were toddlers had a problem understanding that little fingers were not to be inserted into the power point. Elvia and I explained in words, sounds and action as best we could to convince them not to explore the power point. What stopped them was a smack on the hand every time they put their finger near the power point. It only took about three episodes of smacking to teach the lesson. The fact that putting their little fingers near the plug hurt destroyed the desire and need to put fingers into the power point. Pain was a good teacher and an excellent motivator. The pain of godly sorrow weakens the power of the will to continue in sin and in this way promotes change. Listen to David expressing the pain of godly sorrow in Psalm 38:1-5.
   ‘O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! For Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness.' The pain of godly sorrow can only be removed by restored fellowship with God. Only the Father's loving embrace removes the pain of godly sorrow in his children. Godly sorrow is also the necessary preparation needed to use the Word of God for correction.

1.  The Lord requires you to use his Word for correction that changes your life.

1. What does the Greek word translated as correction mean? There are some very interesting pictures behind the meaning of this word - its early meaning was that of standing something up after it had fallen down. In Modern Greek it means to rectify or to make reparations. In papyri dating back to the time of the New Testament it was used for the correction of manuscripts. Think of a proof-reader correcting a draft of a book. It really does not matter which of these pictures you attach to the word the concept is the same. The proper use of the Scriptures not only exposes sinful ways, it also rights the wrong. The Bible must not be used only to reveal what you are doing wrong in the eyes of God; it must also reveal how you need to change in order to do what is right in God's eyes. The force of the word used for correction is such that it deals with righting specific wrongs and not general principles. If you have spelt a word incorrectly it will correct that word. If you owe someone money it will be specific and give the exact amount, you owe $427.63. Conviction of sin is also very specific; you are not convicted about breaking a principle, but of not doing what the Bible specifically prescribes.
   
   
2. Using the Scriptures to bring about correction involves looking at the past, dealing with the present and preparing for the future.
   
   
   1. Look back at the past in order to confess your sin. Proverbs 28:13 says, ‘He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.' The Hebrew word translated as confess means to retell your story. The Greek word translated most often as confess means to speak out. You tell the facts about your sinful actions, words, thoughts, and desires. The Greek word used cannot mean to acknowledge your sin privately and subjectively. It demands that the facts of the sin be told to God and the person offended. Confession involves understanding your sin, wholeheartedly agreeing with the Scriptures that what you have done is wrong in the eyes of God. It is accepting that you have sinned and have no excuse to lessen the fact that you deliberately did what God prohibits or failed to do what God prescribes. What is the purpose of confession? The Biblical purpose of confession is essentially to seek forgiveness. Confession falls short if it is not driven by the desire to be forgiven. When confession is done out of duty it does not promote change and the work of conviction of sin has fallen short. Confession feeds on a true sense of need - the need to be forgiven. The confessor must have a sense of it is important and necessary to be forgiven. Confession of sin is much, much more than saying, ‘I am sorry.' Confession is more than offering an apology.
      
      
   2. Regarding the present forgiveness needs to be sought from the Lord. Concerning forgiveness believers have the wonderful and amazing promise given in 1 John 1:9 ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' It is very important to note that on the basis of Jesus Christ's work of atonement on the cross of Calvary God not only forgives our sins, but sees us in Christ and therefore perfect - clean from all unrighteousness. The guilt and stains of your sins are removed by God's grace. Your sin is thrown into the depths of the sea and God remembers it no more. We must not abuse this promise and think that God's forgiveness is automatic and unconditional. If you seek forgiveness of sin without conviction of sin, repentance and true confession you will not receive it. We mock God and belittle the atoning work of Jesus if we confess our sins today knowing that we will commit the same sin tomorrow.
      
      
   3. Regarding the present forgiveness needs to be sought from those offended by your sin. Obviously when you seek another's forgiveness you need to confess your sin. This confession needs to be honest and without justification. When you sin, you are without excuse. If you have an excuse for sinning then you deny God's promise given in 1 Corinthians 10:13. God's solemn promise says, ‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.' If you had no option but to sin, then this promise is not true. Take full ownership of your sin when you confess it to the person you offended and then seek their forgiveness. Forgiveness in the Biblical sense involves a commitment from the offended and offending parties. The offender asks for forgiveness and seeks to put things right (that is the meaning of the word correction). If loss has been suffered then compensation needs to be given. If a good name is slandered efforts need to be made to correct the errors. The offender must be willing to eat a great deal of humble pie. When we ask another to forgive us we commit ourselves to put things right. The offended person makes a commitment to the person they forgive - the commitment is not to raise the offence with him, to others and not to roll it around in his heart and mind. The matter of the offence is closed and dealt with. Forgiveness is not easy as it involves a cost and real effort, therefore it really can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit.
      
      
   4. Regarding the future Biblical strategies and structures need to be put in place to assist the offender to forsake his sin. This does not simply mean a willingness to deny selfish desires and get rid of self-centred ambitions - it also means making it as difficult as possible for yourself to commit the sin you fell into. This is the action Jesus advocates in Matthew 18:8-9 which says, ‘If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.' We know that the Lord did not mean this literally as Peter would have cut out his tongue after denying the Lord three times on the night he was betrayed. Jesus teaches us as Jay Adams says; to eliminate anything, anyone, any influence, or any situation that may be a stumbling block to holy obedience to God's Word. That what is demanded is great cannot be denied, nor can it be denied that will-power and determination are not enough to take this radical action to stop sinning - it must be done by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus demands that we make re-offending in that sin more difficult, by making the offence a clear deliberate choice that requires conscious thought and effort - so that you think before you act. We need to put structures in place that obstruct what is done by habit. If your sin is a habit do all you can to make yourself think about what you are about to do. Correction demands that the sin be forsaken. Part of the change is to stop the re-occurrence of the sin. That the offender will find it heavy going is understood. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:2, ‘Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with longsuffering and teaching.' The work of correction must be done with long-suffering. The Bible does not offer instant release and victory over habitual sin, but calls on believers to fight sin and put it to death by the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:13). Biblical correction is not a slap on the wrist; it is a life changing correction to glorify God. God has given his people his Word to use for correction and we must not neglect this work.

2. The Lord requires you to use his Word for instruction in righteousness that changes your life.

1. Why is instruction for righteousness important? If we use the Bible to establish sound doctrine, convict us of our sins and correction surely that is enough? According to Biblical wisdom these three uses of the Word need to be strengthened and secured by instruction in righteousness. The word translated as instruction is a very interesting word. The Hebrew words ‘yasar' and ‘musar' convey the same concept as the Greek word ‘paideia'. The English words used to translate these words are chastening (most frequently), nurturing, instruction and chastisement. It was used to describe the education of children - the training of children in knowledge and morals. Education was done in a disciplined way and teachers used commands, admonitions, reproof, punishment and rewards to correct mistakes and curb passions.  The same word is used in Hebrews 12:5-6, ‘My son, do not despise the  chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.' The words chastening and chastens are both forms of the Greek word are found in 2 Timothy 3:16. The loving perfect instruction God gives his children sets the example.  There are two things we need to note from the passage (a) this instruction (chastening) is an exercise of God's holy love; (b) it involves pain. The aspect of pain is referred to in Hebrews 12:11, ‘Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.' God has given us His holy Word to use in disciplined training of ourselves and one another in righteousness. Training or instructing in righteousness means more than simply teaching the content of the word, it includes giving a clear example and also practical demonstration. Training from the Bible needs to be given so that believers cultivate a life marked by righteousness. Before being saved by Christ you were dominated by the wickedness of the sinful nature, now that you are saved you need to replace all remaining remnants of the sinful nature with righteousness.
   
   
2. What is the righteousness to which 2 Timothy 3:16 refers? Listen to Jay Adams explaining the Biblical concept of righteousness. ‘The New Testament word for righteousness means literally "rightness." The principal Old Testament Word that corresponds to the New Testament word means ‘straightness.' Righteousness is conformity to God's Biblical standard.' We are to conform to God's standard not in a legalistic way, but from hearts changed by the power of the Holy Spirit, hearts which in loving and joyful submission to the Lord produce fruit for his glory.
   
   
3. When we were converted we were baptised by the Spirit into Christ, our status of being in Christ means that we are counted righteous because his work of atonement is applied to us. We are declared ‘not guilty of sin' (justified) by God the judge because we are covered by Christ's blood. In Christ we are counted righteous, now the work of instruction in righteousness by the power of the Spirit is for us to become righteous in our actual lives. We are called to fully engage in getting rid of the sinfulness of our lives every day. The work of getting rid of sinful ways by the power of the Spirit according to the Scriptures is called sanctification. Every Christian is called to use the Bible to promote his sanctification resolutely, deliberately, diligently and consistently. The rule of Christ Jesus - the King of Kings over his people is exercised by his Spirit according to his Royal Word.

3. Using God's Word to change your life.

Most protestant Christians have been taught to use the Bible for personal devotions. This is a time when you speak to the Lord in prayer and the Lord speaks to you from his Word. Personal devotions are used to develop your personal relationship with the Lord. This use of the Bible has been rightly emphasised, but it is hopelessly inadequate if you are not using the Scriptures to establish sound doctrine, for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. It is the practical use of the Word to transform our lives that provides true growth in grace. Without the practical use of the Word we can grow in knowledge and in mystical feelings, but not in grace. Showing the reality of the victory of Christ's cross in your life by overcoming sin honours the Lordship of Christ. Are you using the Scripture as the Lord requires? This is a vital and extremely important question. The greatest evidence that you are not using the Bible as the Lord requires, is your seemingly hopeless fight against sin. You have failed so often in your attempts to overcome sin that you have basically given up the fight. You have accepted defeat and comforted yourself by telling yourself that to live a life of righteousness is impossible. You do not strive to be holy, but drift along tolerating sin and thinking this is as holy as I am going to get on earth. Others that look at your life see very little difference between you and the atheist next door and the pagan over the road. Christ's death has made no difference to your life on earth, all the difference will be experienced in heaven. If this is the way you think listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 5:20, ‘For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.' Jesus is looking for righteousness in his people on earth. Jesus demands that you live a righteous life.

Conclusion